International Flooring Media News, Europe

With the ever decreasing floorspace of new housing developements throughout the UK, one has to sit up and take notice of the fact 'Shoebox Homes' affect the flooring industry. New three bedroom homes are missing 22m² of the recommended floorspace.

The following is taken from RIBA 'Case for Space Report'

Unlike most countries in Europe, in the UK there is no blanket regulation in place whereby developers build to a proven acceptable size, except for London, 'The London Plan: Spatial Development Strategy for Greater London (July 2011)'.

Floor Area - one bedroom Homes

Taken from a sample of 1,159 new homes across 41 sites in England, the average floor area is 46 square metres. This represents 93% and falling 4m² short of the recommended minimum. 4m² is equivalent to a single bed, a bedside table and a dressing table with a stool; 3m² is the equivalent of a 3 seat sofa and a desk and chair.

Floor Area - three bedroom homes

Taken from a sample of 3,418 homes across 71 sites in England, the average floor area is 88m² (947sq ft). This represents 92% and falls short by 8m² of the recommended minimum for a two storey three bedroom home for five residents. 8m^² is the equivalent of a single bedroom and the furniture you would expect to fit comfortably within it; 7m² is the equivalent of a galley kitchen and a coffee table. The most common three bedroom home was 74m² which is smaller still. At only 77% of the recommended size it is missing 22m² and therefore the space equivalent to two double bedrooms and all their contents.

Paul Stuart, founder of the flooring industry 'Open Publishing Project - IFCMN' says, "This is not good for the flooring industry which is already suffering losses as the result of raw material price increases and other global economic factors".